ID :
20003
Wed, 09/17/2008 - 19:18
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/20003
The shortlink copeid
Expert calls for reduction of Seoul's burden for U.S. military presence
SEOUL, Sept. 17 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean civic activist on Wednesday insisted Seoul should pay less for maintaining U.S. military troops here, claiming they serve partly to protect Washington's own interests.
"South Korea is not the only beneficiary of the South Korea-U.S. alliance," said Park Jeong-eun, a disarmament expert from People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy.
The remarks came at a seminar hosted by Rep. Song Young-sun of the pro-Park United Party, a minority political group which consists of followers of the ruling Grand National Party's former leader, Park Geun-hye. Song currently sits on the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs, Trade and Unification Committee.
Seoul's financial share for the stationing of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) is a highly controversial issue, and a large number of liberal groups have long demanded a complete withdrawal of the U.S. military, whose forces are stationed here as a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War.
Seoul and Washington have held two rounds of negotiations this year to set their share of the financial burden under an arrangement known as the Special Measures Agreement.
Washington is pressing Seoul to pay a more "equitable" amount, or 50 percent of the total cost, while South Korea argues the cost-sharing should be based on the size of the countries' economies.
Seoul currently pays about 42 percent or some 725 billion won (US$720 million) of total costs to maintain the 28,500 U.S. servicemembers.
Park's argument to reduce Seoul's burden is largely in line with the demand of other civic activists who say the U.S. military presence is not only aimed at protecting the country from North Korea, but that it is also -- if not mostly -- aimed at protecting U.S. commercial interests in northeast Asia.
Others say a more "fair" sharing of the costs is inevitable, considering the USFK's contribution to the country's defense and economy.
"U.S. forces' contribution to the Korean economy was about $1.27 billion as of 2004, considering their employment (of Koreans) and consumption," said Cha Doo-hyun, a researcher at the Korea Institute for Defense Analysis.
"Therefore, paying 50 percent of the total cost seems quite adequate."
"South Korea is not the only beneficiary of the South Korea-U.S. alliance," said Park Jeong-eun, a disarmament expert from People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy.
The remarks came at a seminar hosted by Rep. Song Young-sun of the pro-Park United Party, a minority political group which consists of followers of the ruling Grand National Party's former leader, Park Geun-hye. Song currently sits on the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs, Trade and Unification Committee.
Seoul's financial share for the stationing of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) is a highly controversial issue, and a large number of liberal groups have long demanded a complete withdrawal of the U.S. military, whose forces are stationed here as a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War.
Seoul and Washington have held two rounds of negotiations this year to set their share of the financial burden under an arrangement known as the Special Measures Agreement.
Washington is pressing Seoul to pay a more "equitable" amount, or 50 percent of the total cost, while South Korea argues the cost-sharing should be based on the size of the countries' economies.
Seoul currently pays about 42 percent or some 725 billion won (US$720 million) of total costs to maintain the 28,500 U.S. servicemembers.
Park's argument to reduce Seoul's burden is largely in line with the demand of other civic activists who say the U.S. military presence is not only aimed at protecting the country from North Korea, but that it is also -- if not mostly -- aimed at protecting U.S. commercial interests in northeast Asia.
Others say a more "fair" sharing of the costs is inevitable, considering the USFK's contribution to the country's defense and economy.
"U.S. forces' contribution to the Korean economy was about $1.27 billion as of 2004, considering their employment (of Koreans) and consumption," said Cha Doo-hyun, a researcher at the Korea Institute for Defense Analysis.
"Therefore, paying 50 percent of the total cost seems quite adequate."
